Ep 2. Drug Pricing

In season 2 episode 2 of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, titled Drug Pricing, Hasan takes on the pharmaceutical industry in the United States. He starts off by asking the audience if they have ever been in a situation where they or someone they know could not afford their medication because of the high cost. He then dives into the data behind why this is happening in the US.

Hasan explains that the US has the highest prescription drug prices in the world, and the average American spends over $1,200 a year on prescription drugs. He shows the audience examples of the cost of drugs in other countries compared to the US, and it's clear that Americans are paying significantly more for the same medication. Hasan points out that the US is the only developed country that does not regulate drug prices, which allows pharmaceutical companies to charge whatever they want for their products.

Hasan then breaks down the complicated system of drug pricing in the US, from rebates to co-payments to insurance premiums. He explains how pharmaceutical companies use these methods to keep their prices high and how insurance companies work with them to keep costs down for themselves. He also talks about the role that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) play in drug pricing and how they often negotiate deals that are not in the best interest of patients.

Hasan also dives into the ways in which pharmaceutical companies try to milk all the profits they can from drugs, including patent extension litigation and "evergreening" of drugs, or making minor changes to a drug so they can keep the patent and charge more. He discusses the opioid epidemic and how drug companies like Purdue Pharma played a major role in causing it.

One of the most poignant moments in the episode comes when Hasan interviews people who have been directly affected by high drug prices. He talks to a woman whose daughter has a rare disease that requires expensive medication, and the family struggles to pay for it each month. He also speaks with a man who lost his wife because they could not afford the medication she needed to stay alive. These stories drive home just how much of an impact high drug prices have on regular people.

Throughout the episode, Hasan offers potential solutions to the drug pricing problem, including allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, importing drugs from other countries, and increasing transparency in drug pricing. However, he also acknowledges that these solutions will be met with resistance from the pharmaceutical industry.

The episode ends on a positive note, with Hasan reminding the audience that Americans have the power to demand change from their elected officials and the pharmaceutical industry. He encourages everyone to speak up and take action to make healthcare more affordable for all.

Overall, Drug Pricing is an informative and emotionally charged episode of Patriot Act that sheds light on a major problem in the American healthcare system. Hasan does an excellent job of breaking down a complex issue and presenting it in a way that is easy for audiences to understand. The personal stories he shares emphasize the human cost of high drug prices, and his calls to action make it clear that something needs to be done.